SDA Sabbath School Lessons
Sabbath afternoon September 14, 1996

Satan couched his lie in a visual aid.

SATAN COUCHED HIS LIE IN A VISUAL AID. (See Gen. 3:1-4). The first
surprise to Eve was to hear a serpent talking in human language.
The second surprise was to see the serpent eating of the forbidden
fruit. The serpent said in effect: "Look, Eve, I am eating the
fruit. Am I dead? Look what the fruit has done for me. If this
fruit did so much for me, you as a human may become like God."

The whole thrust of Satan's speech through the mouth of the
serpent was: "Look how much you could improve yourself if you
were to eat the fruit. God is keeping back marvelous advancement
from you. This is why He said you will die. He is a liar. Eat,
and you will become truly liberated and exalted." To Eve,
seeing was believing. She believed her senses, made the decision,
and ate. Ever since that fatal temptation in Eden, Satan has
promoted his first lie ("you shall not die'') by appealing to
the senses.

What is death? What hope is there beyond the grave? How does the
Bible unmask Satan's deceptions?